Whiffletree.



md, M 0. ,no m Wm WU |.v d m, -A J@ S im m ,m h a m J DRH, A.E2 T mi .Hm,mmm wim P u om 8 5 7, m 5 u 6 0 M 0 o N. m

114s mams vs -Isis on. muro-uma, wsrlmavou. n. c..

UNITED STATES PATENT f EEICE,

J'UsTIN M. ooNRAD, oF ARLINGTONANEBRASKA.

WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,589, datedSeptember11, 1900.

Application filed March 22, 1900. Serial No. 9,772. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, JUSTIN M. CONRAD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Arlington,in the countyof Washington and State of Nebraska,have invented new and useful Improvements in Whiiiietrees, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in whiflietrees;and its primary object is to provide a device of this character adaptedto be detachably secured to a tongue and pivoted thereto in such amanneras to bring the point of draft on aline with the center of the pivots ofthe singletrees.

To this end the invention consists in the novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form ofmy invention, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the deviceattached to a tongue. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectiontherethrough; and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the Whiffletree, showing thetongue and hammer-strap in section.

Referring to said figures by numerals of reference, l is a tongue ofsuitable construction and secured to a vehicle in any desired manner.Detachably secured to the upper surface of the tongue by means of bolts2 or in other suitable manner is a hammer-strap 3, formed of suitablematerial and' enlarged, as at 4. This enlarged end is cut away at 5 andis provided with a horizontal transverse slot 6, adapted to receive aplate 7, substantially U-shaped inisection and secured at opposite endsto a Whiiiietree 8 by means of bolts or rivets 9 passing therethroughand preferably engaging with a plate 10 upon the bottom of saidwhifietree. It will be seen that the Whiffletree hangs within the recess5, formed in the hammer-strap. A pin ll passes through the forked end ofthe hammer-strap and the plate 7, thereby permitting the whiietree topivot, as is obvious. Singletrees, as 12, are pivoted upon the surfaceof the whiffletree in any suitable manner and are so arranged that thecenter of their pivots is Within the same vertical 4and horizontal planepassing through the pivot of the whiiiletree. By this construction Iovercome the twisting of the whiffletree, which occurs where thehammer-bolt or draw-pin is placed down through the doubletree andtongue, thereby placing the points of draft of the singletrees andWhiflietree out of alinement. By arranging the trees as in my devicethey are in position to be used for any style of work.

The device can be applied to any form of wagon -tongue, dac., and theparts may be made of malleable iron or suitable material, whereby thestrap may be bent to conform to the shape of the tongue.

It will be understood that when the device is not used with a wagon aclevis with hooks may be substituted for the hammer-strap.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of myinvention; but Ido not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right tomake such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

While I have shown the hammer-strap secured to the tongue at a point infront of the whiffletree, the same may, if desired, be secured at therear thereof.

. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device of -the character described the combination, with awhiflietree, of singletrees pivoted thereto, a plate secured to thewhiietree therebetween,and a hammer-strap pivoted within said plate at apoint in alinement with the center of the pivots of the singletrees.

2. In a device of the character described the combination, with atongue, of a hammerstrap detachably secured thereto,a forked end to theham mer-strap, a plate pivoted therein, a whifletree secured to theplate, and singletrees pivoted to the whiiiietree on opposite sidesthereof.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK W. LUDWIG, WHITFIELD D. LEWIS.

